As long suspected, users of the current Windows Phone 7.5 platform won't be able to upgrade to the next major version of Microsoft's smartphone operating system, Windows Phone 8.

Instead, they'll receive an update called Windows Phone 7.8. The only feature that Microsoft has confirmed will be included in the 7.8 update is the new Start screen, with its full-width tiles and greater customization. However, company representatives left open the possibility that other Windows Phone 8 features might be included in the update.

Windows Phone 8 includes a number of features that require appropriate hardware not found in current devices, such as NFC and multicore support. It also has features that are pure software, such as the new multitasking APIs and speech integration. Including these pure software features in the 7.8 update would likely improve the longevity of current phones, as they would be able to use new apps that take advantage of the new capabilities. Nevertheless, Microsoft may not feel it's worth the effort.

Similarly, though the company has only spoken of the new Start screen, Windows Phone 8 might contain other user interface changes. Such changes would be pure software, and hence feasibly incorporated into the 7.8 update. Again, it depends on whether Redmond thinks it's worth porting them to the old platform.

This is bad news for any current users of Windows Phone. Just how bad is less clear.

If 7.8 really does contain nothing more than the new Start screen, the value of any current Windows Phone handset has just been slashed. As soon as Windows Phone 8 hits the market, applications that make use of its new APIs and capabilities will be released, and none of these will run on current phones. While this is fair enough in the case of apps that depend on, for example, NFC—software updates can't change the hardware, after all—it's less satisfactory when it comes to apps such as VoIP. The only thing holding these apps back is software, and that's eminently changeable.

On the other hand, if 7.8 contains all the new APIs that make sense—so excluding NFC (as it requires hardware), and native code (as it requires the Windows 8 core), but including VoIP and turn-by-turn multitasking, the non-NFC portion of Wallet, and any other UI improvements that Microsoft is making—then the situation is much rosier. Current users are still being left behind, but they should continue to be able to get new apps and new capabilities for another few years yet.

Eh I figured this was going to be the case when I upgraded this year and I still decided to use my upgrade to get a better phone. I think it's obvously prudent to wait to see just how much of the new OS feature set will be included with 7.8 before anyone starts throwing rocks through their windows (pardon the pun).

Not that anyone has a Windows Phone, but in the extremely unlikely event you do, must be nice to know what Microsoft thinks of you: fuck all.

Same thing happened with the iPhone 3G rendered unusable by iOS4; and don't get me started on some (more specifically my) android (no ICS update, hell, no gingerbread for my apparently forever 2.2 phone), but knowing that they will port the start screen and *maybe* some other features, makes the Lumia series have some more longevity

While it probably isn't a big deal for people with older phones, I can't help but wonder what this means for people buying the new Lumias. While their phones won't get worse, it will certainly chafe them a bit to find out that their brand new phone has been EOL'd.

I just can't believe this will happen. Especially with all of the money and resources that MS has been throwing at building their app store. To suddenly cut all of their customers out of any new apps would be illogical. I have to believe that the 7.8 will allow people to run anything that doesn't require specific hardware.

Nokia announced the Lumia 610 NFC recently and it was always rumoured the 900 had NFC, even if not active (they call their Reaction headset an NFC device) but it seems those won't be getting WP8 anyway due to other hardware restrictions. Gotta hurt for anyone who put money into the 900 to get a year out of it.

What really worries me is that Microsoft will put in an "easy" way for developers to sell apps on WP7.8 phones then zero developers will do it because of the market share being so insignificant. Or they simply won't be tested and they'll all run like garbage. Still, much better than nothing.

I got my WP7 in February. I feel like i should be angrier about this. But if my phone continues to work the way it does, i'll be happy with it for the next year and a half, regardless of the lack of support for new stuff.

Granted i probably don't put it through its paces the way alot of people might.

I asked a question about this during the live blog, and my initial reaction to this announcement is dismay and anger. It will probably take me a while to come around to the upsides of this announcement, but it still is a pretty rotten deal if Win7.8 only gets a couple features. I can live without the updates that require the hardware, but everything is crappy. It would be wise of Microsoft to include as many features of Win8 into Win7.8 to keep their current customers, and any hopes of future customers.

Nokia announced the Lumia 610 NFC recently and it was always rumoured the 900 had NFC, even if not active (they call their Reaction headset an NFC device) but it seems those won't be getting WP8 anyway due to other hardware restrictions. Gotta hurt for anyone who put money into the 900 to get a year out of it.

As far as I know most put little to no money into thei Lumias. I've seen it for 50 bucks or less pretty much everywhere. I wonder if that's why. I'd like to think Nokia has a Lumia "1000" in development as a replacement for the 900. What someone else said though, with so few phones on the market (comparitively) it might not be that big a deal. Besides, like the first gen iphones this isn't anything new. Same with Android. The only difference is that MS is in need of any customers it can get and the mindshare hit they'll probably take at first won't help. Still aside from the haters and whiners this isn't really that big a deal. These phones are launching around 2 years after the first sets hit the market so there's probably going to be quite a few early adopters who will get subsidized WP8 hardware.

I can't imagine many apps are going to be backported from 8 -> 7.8. Microsoft are touting how easy it is to develop for 8 now it has a shared Windows kernel and similar APIs/SDKs as Windows. None of these things will be true for 7.8, so porting code will be a lot of effort.

Presumably, new app development will be based on the WinRT framework. Unless Microsoft is planning on denying ALL new apps for Windows 7.8 users, they will have to include that (and the substantial changes that it implies) too.

I don't think Microsoft can afford to be arrogant enough to think that including important new features (mainly WinRT) is "not worth it" considering their position in the market. If they do, they're essentially back at 0% marketshare because no WP8 device has launched and they've given the finger to what little marketshare they now have with WP7. I don't think they'll be doing that, they can't afford it. I think and hope that most features will come to WP7 devices, if not at launch then incrementally added in smaller updates.

What I'm most worried about is the lack of native code support for current devices. I suppose that's because native binaries for the Windows 8 kernel can't be read by the CE kernel (even if the CE kernel could be able to run the actual instructions)? Either way, if native code support goes beyond games and is supported for actual app development, it means that important apps like Firefox (just an example, don't know if WP8 will allow alternative browser engines like Windows 8 does) and all that goodness will never come to WP7. Not too worried about them not being able to run high end native games since the hardware wouldn't be able to cope anyway. Though I hope that .NET development for games is still possible and that app developers aren't dumb enough to just go the native route for the simple (and by far the most popular) games like Angry Birds.

I hope that the version of 7.8 is meant symbolically in the sense that the 8 represents it being WP8 in practical sense, while perhaps not at the core.

This has to be the most asinine move ever. For microsoft, who has such a small market share in phones and trying to grow it, it's ridiculous that they would completely alienate anyone purchasing a phone even this year.

I had no intentions of upgrading my Samsung Focus until it literally broke (I'm tired of paying $200 for new phones) but now I don't even know what to do.

This has to be the most asinine move ever. For microsoft, who has such a small market share in phones and trying to grow it, it's ridiculous that they would completely alienate anyone purchasing a phone even this year.

I have to agree. MS probably looked at its 2% market share in mobile and said, "Eh, this hardly affects anyone." But what they don't seem to be getting is that the customers this does effect are Windows Phone's best customers -- these are the early adopters who took a chance on a minority platform and are possibly recommending it to their friends.

Nokia announced the Lumia 610 NFC recently and it was always rumoured the 900 had NFC, even if not active (they call their Reaction headset an NFC device) but it seems those won't be getting WP8 anyway due to other hardware restrictions. Gotta hurt for anyone who put money into the 900 to get a year out of it.

As far as I know most put little to no money into thei Lumias. I've seen it for 50 bucks or less pretty much everywhere. I wonder if that's why. I'd like to think Nokia has a Lumia "1000" in development as a replacement for the 900. What someone else said though, with so few phones on the market (comparitively) it might not be that big a deal. Besides, like the first gen iphones this isn't anything new. Same with Android. The only difference is that MS is in need of any customers it can get and the mindshare hit they'll probably take at first won't help. Still aside from the haters and whiners this isn't really that big a deal. These phones are launching around 2 years after the first sets hit the market so there's probably going to be quite a few early adopters who will get subsidized WP8 hardware.

Subsidized cost != real cost. A lot of users will be stuck with a Lumia 900 until early 2014 with 2 year contracts unless they want to pay out. In Canada you're talking 3 year contracts. The problem is that Nokia was the big push, the way to hit the mass market, not the early WP7 devices and anyone who did dive in gets somewhat screwed. I almost looked at a 900 as a replacement to my current WP7 phone, I'm really glad I didn't.

Apple, on the other hand, still supports the 3 year old 3GS (it will be receiving iOS6 later this year), the original iPhone got more than the Lumia's did as well. And only being as bad as Android doesn't say much, Android is a fustercluck of devices and support for OS models, Microsoft has to do better than Android.

Apple, on the other hand, still supports the 3 year old 3GS (it will be receiving iOS6 later this year), the original iPhone got more than the Lumia's did as well. And only being as bad as Android doesn't say much, Android is a fustercluck of devices and support for OS models, Microsoft has to do better than Android.

So quick to forget we are? iPhone 3G users (Was one of them) got completely hosed by the 4.0 upgrade only 13 months into my ATT contract back then. (Got mine in May, 3GS came out few months later).

Wouldn't this be a non-topic if they called the entire thing WP 8 and detailed what older devices would not be able to use? That would seem to follow Android and iOS.

It's an issue because this is an announcement without a product launch. Potential WP customers now have good reason to avoid buying a phone until WP8 devices ship, since all existing phones are now officially declared finished with.

Generally Apple (& Google to some extent?) make these announcements with shipping products and avoid casting their whole product line into irrelevance...

At least my WP7 phone will still dial numbers. Not so much for my iPhone 3G after 4.0 upgrade. (No, 4.1 and 4.2 did not fix the unusable slowness of the entire device).

Well, it's not like losing access to the latest windows phone apps will actually be a big loss. My iPhone3g was rendered annoying by 4.0 but was made usable by 4.1. My wife is still using it. She doesn't care about apps.

At least my WP7 phone will still dial numbers. Not so much for my iPhone 3G after 4.0 upgrade. (No, 4.1 and 4.2 did not fix the unusable slowness of the entire device).

Yeah, but the goal isn't to copy Apple's fuckups too.

The goal is to at least try to be objective. It seems that when Apple does something that causes a rebuy of the device it is reported as ok (Even when its something as simple as Siri that clearly works on ip4 yes was specifically taken out to force people to rebuy the 4S), however if something like this happens to Android or Windows Phone, its evil and screws up the customer. Especially when new features actually require updated hardware (unlike Siri in case of ip4->ip4s). Yeah, right, objective lol.

At least my WP7 phone will still dial numbers. Not so much for my iPhone 3G after 4.0 upgrade. (No, 4.1 and 4.2 did not fix the unusable slowness of the entire device).

Well, it's not like losing access to the latest windows phone apps will actually be a big loss. My iPhone3g was rendered annoying by 4.0 but was made usable by 4.1. My wife is still using it. She doesn't care about apps.

4.1 and 4.2 did nothing to fix the device. Dialing something as simple as a number would freeze/hang the phone for several seconds. Answering a phone would fail (UI was frozen and unresponsive, swipe did not work 50% of the time on incoming calls).Current WP7 phones will still do everything they did the day before once WP8 is released.

Subsidized cost != real cost. A lot of users will be stuck with a Lumia 900 until early 2014 with 2 year contracts unless they want to pay out. In Canada you're talking 3 year contracts. The problem is that Nokia was the big push, the way to hit the mass market, not the early WP7 devices and anyone who did dive in gets somewhat screwed. I almost looked at a 900 as a replacement to my current WP7 phone, I'm really glad I didn't.

Apple, on the other hand, still supports the 3 year old 3GS (it will be receiving iOS6 later this year), the original iPhone got more than the Lumia's did as well. And only being as bad as Android doesn't say much, Android is a fustercluck of devices and support for OS models, Microsoft has to do better than Android.

I think this is why it's important what they announce with 7.8. If they can give a long tail to EOL for 7.5 phones I don't think there should be an issue. As far as subsidized cost yes I understand what you're saying and maybe ATT here in the states will offer some sort of early out option with maybe a nominal fee or free for Lumia users (the majority of WP7 users). I doubt it but it's so early I'd say it's wise to wait to hear more before passing ultimate judgement.

RIM has been locking prior users out of Blackberry OS updates for the last few years. Look how that turned out for them. Apple has released the most OS updates for it's older phones and has the highest customer satisfaction rating of all phone makers. (Full disclosure, I directed my Blackberry Storm 2 OS5 lock rage into the purchase of an iPhone 4S. Yes, it is a phone I bought partly out of spite for RIM).

Whatever goodwill Microsoft engenders with Windows Phone 8 will be tempered by the justifiable rage of users locked into Windows Phone 7.8.

Not that anyone has a Windows Phone, but in the extremely unlikely event you do, must be nice to know what Microsoft thinks of you: fuck all.

Sort of what like Apple just did to those of us with an original iPad that cost anywhere from $500 to over $800 as recently as Spring 2011. Or what Samsung did to the Behold 2 owners after months of promising updates and even posting videos of the device running the then new Android 2.0.

Don't forget all of those millions of Macs Apple shipped with Intel GPUs that they killed off for no reason

Not that anyone has a Windows Phone, but in the extremely unlikely event you do, must be nice to know what Microsoft thinks of you: fuck all.

I have no problem with this.

The hardware and the software should always be designed together, and it's been my experience that trying to shoehorn newer software on to an old hardware platform is almost always a recipe for failure. It's far better to treat the OS and the hardware as a single unit.

This isn't a "screw you" move from Microsoft; it's simply an acknowledgement of reality: neither the iPhone nor Android has been particularly successful at running new software on old hardware. On the iPhone, the new software is inevitably crippled. On Android, we see all kinds of weirdness.

Either way: new operating software means new hardware. This is as it should be.

This has been pretty much confirmed for some time now, so not a real shocker. I'll be replacing my aging LG Optimus 7 anyway, and my wife loves her Lumia 800 and will still love it after.

In a way I am sad that this happened, because I think they likely would have found a way to do something, but it's likely a hardware incompatibility (think Hardware AES support for bitlocker) which is the problem here.

Apple, on the other hand, still supports the 3 year old 3GS (it will be receiving iOS6 later this year), the original iPhone got more than the Lumia's did as well. And only being as bad as Android doesn't say much, Android is a fustercluck of devices and support for OS models, Microsoft has to do better than Android.

So quick to forget we are? iPhone 3G users (Was one of them) got completely hosed by the 4.0 upgrade only 13 months into my ATT contract back then. (Got mine in May, 3GS came out few months later).

To compare, 2 years after the release of the iPhone 3G it received a software update that significantly slowed it down. This is the worst mistake Apple has made with a software update and the users either had to deal with a slower OS or downgrade to iOS3 (which could still be easily developed for, alongside iOS4). This happened at the same time the iPhone 4 came out, meaning most existing users didn't care as they were all drowning in a pool of their own saliva.

The Lumia 900, on the other hand, came out 2-3 months ago. It won't get the first major upgrade after its release (coming less than a year later), let alone the second. It is questionable as to whether new apps will work on it and it won't even get a gimped version of the new OS, instead it'll get a feature update to the existing one. The options for current users right now is... nothing. To be fair, at least Microsoft didn't leave consumers in the dark until the last moment, but all users have is a sense of rejection. No new devices or options, the sole promise of a future is 7.8 which offers the start experience (oh joy!).

As someone with one of the first round of WP7 devices, I'll deal with it. As I mentioned, I've been looking at the Lumia's as an upgrade right now but held off due to the uncertain future. I'd be royally pissed if my month old phone was suddenly killed off without warning, 13 months into a device that was already almost 12 months old when I bought it wouldn't compare.

WP7 was a reaction to the iPhone and Android, and started development after those were already released. One would think that with such a late start that Microsoft would have future-proofed the underlying foundation so that this didn't have to happen so soon in the Windows Phone lifetime.

Good thing I love my Windows Phone experience so much (Samsung Focus) that I will gladly shell out to upgrade. Disappointed that the new kernel won't run on the old hardware? Yes. Excited about the new stuff? HELL Yes. One Kernel to rule them all.